Transfofa em Blog

segunda-feira, outubro 31, 2011

[UK]Fury over NHS sex change for evil killerA savage killer serving life in Britain’s toughest jail has been given the go-ahead to have a sex change on the NHS.Robert Page, 35, bludgeoned, stabbed and booted frail Clive White, 56, at least 100 times ­in a ­horrific frenzy during a ­bungled burglary.

[Malaysia] [Commentary]Miss Transgender Malaysia 2011The event was called “Fashion and Sense” but behind this euphemism necessary in a “conservative” country like Malaysia was the national beauty pageant for Malaysia’s transgender community.

[Australia]A lifetime search for the stranger on the shoreA former champion surfer has finally found a modicum of peace - but it has been an emotionally and physically torturous journey, writes Frank Robson.For Westerly Windina, home is a small Housing Commission flat at the Gold Coast. Technically, she lives alone but in every other sense Windina shares her home, and her mind, with the man she used to be: surfing great Peter Drouyn.

[USA] Parents urged to support, safeguard children as they explore genderAt first, Felisha Archuleta thought her young son's affinity for wearing dresses, primping his hair and playing with Barbies and Bratz dolls indicated he was going through a stage.But Bobby Montoya's interest in "girl stuff" has not been short-lived: He's grown his hair out and has dressed as a girl when he can for much of his 7 years. Bobby's been "outspoken" about his gender identity, said Archuleta.

[CA, USA]A Trans Woman's Breakthrough in BodybuildingBodybuilding competitions are nothing new for personal trainer Chris Tina Bruce. Years ago, Bruce had been through the process of bulking up, training hard, and the tiring day-long competitions awarding bodies in peak condition. But for the first time Bruce will be competing as a woman.

[VA, USA] Transgender Group Holds First Public MeetingSome members of the Free Women Society met for the very first time publicly in Lynchburg Saturday night. Right at the start, leaders spelled out their goals including educating the public about transgender issues.

[Cuba/Netherlands]Castro’s daughter impressed by Dutch take on prostitutionPraise indeed for the way prostitution is organised in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. The Cuban sexologist Mariela Castro Espín is pleasantly surprised by the facilities that exist for window prostitutes in the Dutch capital.

domingo, outubro 30, 2011

[UK]Trans Lesbians Wed in BritainIt’s a story of lifetime commitment that crosses gender lines: Two British trans lesbians married after one of them had gender reassignment surgery, reported British newspaper the Daily Mail on Oct. 27.

[UK]Interview: Cambridge couple battle prejudice after sex changeSarah Brown and Sylvia Knight are believed to be the first couple in Cambridgeshire to take the unusual pathway of marriage, divorce and becoming civil partners - all so that Sarah could be legally recognised as a woman after gender reassignment surgery.

[Australia]Raising awareness of the intersex communityOver the next fortnight the intersex community of Australia will be commemorating Intersex Awareness Day which for the past 15 years has been celebrated on October 26, after a number of activists decided to picket an American Association of Paediatrics conference in 1996.

[CA, USA]RIVERSIDE: Cal Baptist expels transgendered studentA transgender woman was expelled from California Baptist University after she appeared on an MTV reality show.Domaine Javier, 24, said university officials told her she was expelled for falsely claiming on her application form that she is a female. Javier revealed on MTV’s “True Life” that she is biologically male.Letters the university sent to Javier say she was expelled for “committing or attempting to engage in fraud, or concealing identity,” and for presenting false or misleading information in university judicial processes.

[CA, USA]US premiere of Cuban film on transgender womanA new landmark film from Cuba will have its U.S. premiere in early November in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Long Beach, Calif. “In the Wrong Body” (“En el Cuerpo Equivocado”), produced in 2010, in Spanish with English subtitles, was directed by Marilyn Solaya.

[FL, USA]Transgender Female Erica Kay Optioning Her Book Bound Between Love in Connection to Her Lawsuit Against the State of Florida for Gender DiscriminationTransgender activist and personality Erica Kay is optioning her autobiography Bound Between Love. In addition to this groundbreaking exposé of Ms. Kay's life, a script based on the book is currently being written by renowned screenwriter Monica Sun of Shadow Majic Films/20th Century Fox and should be completed by early Spring 2012. Once the script is finalized pre-production will begin on the first feature transgender biography to hit the big screen in the United States. This history-making project has already begun to attract the attention of some of Hollywood's elite personalities and financiers.

[TX, USA]Did you hear Bo and Jim joking about the trans child? If so, Autumn wants to knowOn Thursday, I posted this blog about a bit on the Bo & Jim morning show on Lone Star 92.5 FM, in which the morning show hosts “discussed” this recent news story about a transgender 7-year-old in Colorado, born biologically male, who was rejected when she tried to join the Girl Scouts. (The Girl Scouts later reversed that decision, saying the worker who rejected the child did not understand the organization’s policies.)

[UK]Michelle had guts to become who she wasMichelle was born a male but now considers herself female.Change for the 60-year-old has been an extremely tough 10 year-long process.Michelle wears make-up and feminine clothes just like almost any other woman.But to reach this point she has endured major physical surgery, the loss of her family and career, and had to face the ridicule of others.Michelle knows all the issues because she has faced them.

[Germany]The x-th generation [GOOGLE TRANSLATION]An estimated 10,000 people living in Germany who are medically referred to as "intersex" because their genitals or their sex chromosomes do not meet the standard.

[Zimbabwe] Mugabe cornered to embrace homosexualsMr Tsvangirai this week told BBC’s Newsnight programme that gay rights were a “human right” that Zimbabwe must strive to respect in the constitution that is being re-written.

[Pakistan]SC verdict implemention soughtTransvestites have demanded the government to implement the Supreme Court’s judgment in its true spirit to give basic rights to their community. The demand was made in a resolution adopted at the end of annual festival of the transvestites at a hotel late Wednesday night.

[USA] Despite Medical Need, Transgender Students Find Procedures UninsuredUniversity of Iowa graduate student stef shuster’s health insurance covers many needs, but not the $10,000 they spent on chest surgery. shuster is transgender, and as a result their healthcare policy—purchased through the university—does not cover what is considered by healthcare professionals to be a medical necessity.

[PA, USA] P.A.C. seeks DA’s interviews with Morris officersConfidential interviews with three police officers and a sergeant involved in the Nizah Morris incident are among a batch of records the Police Advisory Commission is seeking from the District Attorney’s office.

[PA, USA] Trans health facility to launchThe name Nizah Morris has long conjured feelings of frustration and anger from members of the LGBT community dismayed with the local transwoman’s unsolved murder. However, the name will soon also encourage ideas of health and hope, thanks to an innovative city initiative.

[TX, USA] A message for Bo & Jim: Bullying and beating up trans children is no joking matterI drive about 60 miles round trip in my daily commute to and from work, and I almost always have the radio on. The past couple of mornings, while flipping from station to station to find something I wanted to listen to, I have ended up on Lone Star 92.5 FM, the classic rock station, which features Bo and Jim as its morning show DJs.

[UT, USA] Transphobia is still a concern for the queer communityAs she walked into her Las Vegas real estate office in a pair of pumps, a short, tight black skirt that showed all the right curves and a low-cut, black blouse, Amy Johanson was determined to show her colleagues that she was a strong and powerful woman. She cleaned out her desk and attracted stares from everyone.

[UT, USA] Trans community fights unemployment, health care battlesComing out of the closet can be a difficult and traumatic experience. The confusion, questions and disappointment from friends and family is often palpable. But after coming out of the closet twice, once as a lesbian and once as a transgender man, Dayne Law is now an expert.

sexta-feira, outubro 28, 2011

[Europe] Historic vote extends EU asylum standards to transgender peopleToday the European Parliament formally adopted a new set of asylum rules for the European Union. The binding rules now include gender identity as a ground of persecution, which EU Member States must take into account. Governments have already agreed to the changes, which are final.

[Turkey]Trans Human Rights Defenders Were Sentenced to Imprisonment While the Attacker Police Officers Have the Privilege of Impunity!

On 19 June 2010, 3 of the founding members of Pembe Hayat were arrested while they were driving in their car by the police officers of Esat Police Station in Ankara without demonstrating any legal reason. Against the everyday arbitrary actions of the police against the trans community in Turkey, Pembe Hayat members rejected to be arrested stating that this action meant the limitation of their freedom of movement, the rights stated in the Law on Misdemeanors and the Police Duty and Authority Law for the police were misused. Still, they were forcibly taken to the pollice station and were arrested while being used violence against.

While the complaints of the trans victims of police violence against the mentioned police officers were not taken into consideration, the complaints of the police officers against the trans human rights defenders with the allegation of “resisting the police”, “insulting the police” and “destroying the public good” were turned into a case within a short period of time. The Ankara 15th Criminal Court of First Instance decided on 26.10.2011 to rule for imprisonment for the trans human rights defenders because of the crime of “resisting the police” and “insulting the police”.

The Board Chair of Pembe Hayat, Buse Kılıçkaya, was given 5 months of prison sentence with the allegation of “resisting the police”. Vice-Chair of Pembe Hayat, Derya Tunç, was given 6 months of prison sentence with the allegation of “resisting the police. Finally, an active member of Pembe Hayat, Naz Gudumen, was given 1 year and 6 months of prison sentence with the allegation of “resisting the police” and “insulting the police”.

The police, who have been perpetrators of arbitrary fines, arrests, violence and ill-treatment against trans human rights defenders, have an impunity; while the trans human rights defenders are continuously being deterred as regards to their activism through ongoing cases opened against them by the police.

This ruling, which aims to eliminate any kind of trans rights activism, breaches the UN Declaration on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders. At the same time, the arbitrary actions of the police officers, discriminatory attitude of the judicial authorities and the institutional violence against the trans community in Turkey, demonstrate the fact that the Turkish Government and relevant authorities ignore the UN Declaration on Human Rights, European Convention on Human Rights, the case-law of European Court of Human Rights, the Constitution and the relevant national legislation of the Turkey.

The verdict gives a message: “You should silence yourself even if the police uses violence against you. Otherwise, you will be subjected to imprisonment!” The same verdict means the approval of the understanding that became visible when the police officers stated “your crime is that you are a trans” when they arrested the trans activists. This policy is the proof of that basic rights and freedoms and the democratic values in Turkey is partial.

We invite everyone against this injustice both in Turkey and abroad to act against the ruling of the local court for solidarity!.

We will not keep ourselves silent to this injustice!.. We protest the violence targeting the trans community and the unfair trial. We invite all relevant authorities to immediately take action against the court ruling which victimizes trans human rights defenders.

With our best regards,

Pembe Hayat

[Canada] Public school board creates sexual orientation policyPublic school board’s policy against harassment of LGBTQ students and staff first of its kind in Prairie provinces Trustees already formed anti-bullying committee last month Chair says students, staff face increased risk

[USA] [Commentary] Trans Representation in the MediaLast night, I slouched in the center row of a mostly empty theatre while a gaggle of teen queers passed around a fuzzy microphone, reflecting on the importance of the Gay-Straight Alliance at their local high schools.

[MI, USA] Trans and triumphantRyan Oliver, 28, can tell you a thing or two about what it really means to be an African American man. Like knowing how to be a "brother to brothers," and showing compassion for other men. And like showing the utmost respect for black women.

[NE, USA] Speaker gives personal face to transgendered lives"I am just one voice out of many," said Ryan Sallans during a speech Tuesday afternoon to a packed crowd at the Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom. "Everybody has a different experience. I share my story because I'm a person just like anyone else."

[TX, USA] New Standards of Care could transform trans healthcareAt a presentation at the Houston Transgender Center last Saturday Colt Meier, doctoral candidate at the University of Houston, and Levi Herman presented information on the World Professional Association of Transgender Health’s new Standards of Care 7. The new Standards of Care, released last month, offer a multidisciplinary guide to healthcare professionals working with “transexual, transgender and gender nonconforming” individuals.

[Albania]Pink Embassy Wins Case Against Member Of Albanian ParliamentThe Commissioner for Protection against Discrimination recommends to the Albanian Parliamentarian to avoid discriminatory language and statements against the LGBT community in Albania.

In a landmark case the Commissioner against Discrimination in Albania has asked a member of the Parliament to avoid discriminatory language and statements against the LGBT community.

The complaint was brought forward by PINK Embassy/LGBT Pro Albania and Alliance against Discrimination to the Commissioner for protection against Discrimination. The lately reacted with a letter of recommendation sent to Mr. Tritan Shehu, Member of Albanian Parliament and vice-chairman of the Commission for Labor, Social Issues and Health.

On December 2010, PINK Embassy/LGBT Pro Albania filed a complaint to the Commissioner against Discrimination, whereupon it asked measures to be taken towards Mr. Tritan Shehu, who at a hearing session of the Commission for Labor, Social Issues and Health at the Parliament during the International Day Against HIV/AIDS declared that homosexuality is a disease and it should be treated with hormones.

The same Commission did not take into consideration the official request of PINK Embassy/LGBT Pro Albania to organise a hearing session for the LGBT people living with HIV/AIDS, but contrary to that it conducting a meeting in secret and without notifying any of the organisations who requested it.

After our complaint, the Commissioner for Protection against Discrimination, took into consideration the case and followed the necessary procedures. On September 30th 2011 the Office of the Commissioner sent a Recommendation Letter to Mr. Tritan Shehu recommending him with the following:

- Mr. Shehu should avoid discriminatory remarks in the future, which cause an atmosphere of tension and unfriendliness towards the LGBT community in Albania . (In this regard we inform Mr. Shehu that homosexuality has been excluded from the International Classification of Diseases and should not be treated as such.)

- Granting all possible guaranties so that the thoughts, opinions and remarks of the LGBT community are heard, evaluated and taken into consideration, when they are directly involved on specific topics, in order to help the community to enjoy fully its rights and freedoms.

PINK Embassy/LGBT Pro Albania wants to thank the institution of the Commissioner for Protection against Discrimination for the collaboration and the positive conclusion on this specific case while it encourages the Commissioner to continue with its work for protection of citizens against any forms of discrimination.

PINK EMBASSYTirana / Albania

[VIA EMAIL]

[Turkey] [Commentary] Turkey jails trans activists for 'insulting police'Three transgender activists in Turkey were sentenced to prison yesterday, 25 October for 'resisting the police'.The three are the founders of the Ankara-based transgender rights organization Pembe Hayat ("Pink Life"). One, Naz Gudumen, was sentenced to 1 year for "insulting the police" and 6 months for "resisting the police".

[Philippines] LGBTs report human rights violationsLesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender (LGBT) activists have submitted to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, Switzerland two scathing reports on the violations of the human rights of their community in the Philippines.

[CA, USA] Thomasson warns of ‘very dangerous’ queer studies ‘infection’Randy Thomasson of Save California joined Janet Mefferd on Friday to discuss the Queer Studies minor at Cal State Fullerton, and the anti-gay activist called the program an “oxymoron.”According to Thomasson, a sincere academic discussion of the LGBT community would show that no one is born gay and that people can simply change their sexual orientation and become ex-gays, “but they are dishonest so they are indoctrinating college students to think that homosexuality, bisexuality and transexuality is good and natural, maybe even for them.”

[CO, USA] Boy wanting to join Girl Scouts told 'no' Everyone has their favorite toys, no matter what age they are. For 7-year-old Bobby Montoya, it's Brats, Barbies and Strawberry Shortcake."I like girl stuff," Bobby said.Bobby is a 7-year-old boy. His mother refers to him as a "he," but Bobby dresses and behaves like a girl.

[OK, USA] OKC proposal leaves out trans employeesThe Oklahoma City Council is considering a proposal to add sexual orientation — but not gender identity and expression — to the city’s employment nondiscrimination policy. The Oklahoman reports that the council discussed the proposal from Councilman Ed Shadid today but put off a vote until Nov. 15:

quarta-feira, outubro 26, 2011

Vietnamese Javan rhino now extinct

On 25 October 2011, WWF and the International Rhino Foundation confirmed that the Javan rhinoceros in Vietnam is extinct.The species was initially believed to be extinct in Vietnam until 1988, when a very small population was found still clinging to existance in Cat Tien National Park. Efforts were made to save this population but poor protection of its habitat ultimately led to its demise. The last Javan rhino in Vietnam was shot and killed in April 2010 and its horn removed.It is WWF's highest priority to save the remaining Javan rhinos in Indonesia and the other species in Vietnam – such as the tiger, Asian elephant and endemic species like the saola – that are all at risk of extinction unless law enforcement and protected area management significantly improves.

[UK] Tranny Hotel receives funding boostA transgender festival taking place in Liverpool has received a massive boost after being awarded a grant to help fund the event.Tranny Hotel, being held 11 – 13 November at The Adelphi, will see dozens of transgender artists descend on the city from across the globe.

[UK] GLBTI hate crimes on the rise in UKIncidents of hate crimes targeting gay and transgender people in Britain are on the rise, with the latest police statistics showing that crimes against transgender people rose by 14 per cent during 2010, while some areas recorded a 170 per cent increase of homophobic crimes.

[Ireland/Thailand] 'Without equality, tolerance is just a myth'Paisarn Likhitpreechakul, The Nation's columnist on gay affairs since 2001, has been honoured by the National Lesbian and Gay Federation (NLGF) of Ireland with the GALA International Prize for Gay Rights Activist of the Year.Paisarn, a defender of gay and other rights, accepted the award over the weekend on behalf of the Sexual Diversity Network.For five years, Paisarn and his organisation have fought against the Army's practice of altering the personal records of transgender draftees to describe them as suffering from permanent psychosis.Recently Paisarn took a phone call telling him about the decision of a court that morning to rule against the practice.

[Turkey] Turkish Cypriots agree to repeal ban on homosexualityTurkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu has agreed to repeal a ban on homosexuality in the northern part of Cyprus.It comes after an outcry over the arrest of three men accused of "conspiring to have a sexual intercourse against the order of nature".

[Uganda] Uganda Parliament Votes to Continue Anti-Homosexual BillUganda’s parliament voted to reopen a debate on a bill that seeks to outlaw homosexuality that may be expanded to include the death penalty for gay people.The legislation will be sent to the relevant session committee for consideration, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga told lawmakers today in a televised debate from the capital, Kampala.

[Pakistan] “My family thinks I’m disgusting”Transgenders are often forced to live under miserable conditions in Pakistan. Society does not accept them and they live as outcasts who are discriminated against in every field of life. This treatment extends not only to strangers but the family of transgenders too, who disown them and may even beat them till they are forced to leave their homes.

[Australia] [Commentary] The 14 days of intersexOctober is a significant month for intersex. October 26 marks the beginning of the Fourteen Days of Intersex with Intersex Awareness Day (IAD).On October 26 1996 the American activist group Hermaphrodites With Attitude (HWA) teamed up with the trans activist group Trans Menace to protest against non-consensual cosmetic infant genital surgeries at the American Association of Paediatrics conference at the Hynes Centre in Boston, Massachusetts.

[Canada] Sun TV airs transphobic adAn ad that activists have called transphobic, which ran in the National Post and the Toronto Sun during the Ontario election campaign, appears to now be airing on Sun TV.On Oct 24, Savannah Garmon tweeted a link to a YouTube video of the ad about an hour after Queer Ontario's Casey Oraa asked the Twitterverse to record a copy. The offending section starts at the 1:00 mark.

[USA] Latina Transgender Advocate Bamby Salcedo on Youth and HIV/AIDS Prevention and EducationAs part of our support for the media coverage around Chaz Bono’s casting on “Danci ng with the Stars” and an increasing amount of transgender-specific coverage in general, GLAAD is continuing to profile prominent transgender advocates and members of the community on a weekly basis. Previously, we spoke with Laverne Cox, Jamison Green, Ph.D., Stephanie Battaglino and Mari Rosenberger, and Noah Lewis. This week, we talked to Bamby Salcedo about her advocacy work with transgender youth and those affected by HIV/AIDS.

[CT, USA] Medical School targets LGBTQ applicantsFor the first time, the Yale School of Medicine is targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer applicants with its recruitment efforts.

[IL, USA] (In)Justice for LGBTQAs part of DePaul's annual Dignity Week, the Center for Intercultural Programs hosted an event designed to give students a look at individuals who routinely have their human dignity challenged, criminalized, or otherwise denied: the LGBT community.

[PA, USA] Transwoman Sentenced in MurderOn Friday, Asia Santana was sentenced to between 14 and 28 years in prison for being found guilty for stabbing her boyfriend to death in Norristown, according to The Times-Herald. Santana, a 41-year-old transgender woman whose given name is Tyrone Crawley, apologized for killing Eric Nevith, 28, who she claims infected her with HIV.

[TX, USA] American Airlines Offering More Benefits to Their LGBT EmployeesAmerican Airlines announced today that it will offer new health coverage for transgender AMR Corporation employees, further expanding its partnership with the LGBT community. This announcement is huge, because it adds coverage for gender reassignment surgery, which is a rarity in the world of insurance. The health care will also ensure that same-sex domestic partners are included under Family and Medical Leaves of Absence.

[WI, USA] Cross-Dresser Charged with Possession of Stun Gun During Escort StingA cross-dressing man lost his blonde wig while running from police Friday during an escort sting and landed himself in jail when police found sex toys and 3,000-volt stun gun in the man’s purse, according to a criminal complaint filed in Waukesha County Circuit Court.